Washing machine



. 1 1927. may 0 F,l H. SHN-rs w WASHING MACHINE Original Filed March 23 1921 Y ix QoQoooQq ATTORNEYS.

Patented May l0, 1927..

narran STATES rATENroFFlcE.

FREDERIC H. EHNTS, 0F GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, lASSIGNOR', BY MESNE .AS-

SIGNMENTS, TO H. W. BUTTERWORTH & SONS COMPANY, A CORPORATIGN 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

WASHING MACHINE.

Original application led March 23, 19.21, Serial No. 454,744. Divided and this application led June 16,

l 1925. Serial No. 37,417.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for washing, dyeing or liquid treating fabrics and similar materials, more especially in some ot its details to improvements in machines ot' this character of the type employng a drum receiver.

The subject matter of the present application is divided from applicants prior application for Washing machines, Serial No. 454,744, filed March 23, 1921, patented September 8, 1925, No. 1,552,599.

lt is a general object of the invention to improve and perfect machinery of the character mentioned so as to increase the convenience in handling the stock or material under treatment, preventing injury to the latter, While etectually' subjecting all parts thereof to uniform treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class mentioned with a novel receiver drum construction which is provided with an improved means for subjecting the stock to a squeezing and turning V action, while eii'ectually preventing tearing or other injury thereto.

Still another object is the provision, in a machine of the class mentioned,I of'a novel receiver drum construction which is fitted with la simple and eii'ective means for lifting the stock from the treating liquor and supporting it in position for convenient removal from the receiver.

Other objects will be in part obvious in connection with the following detailed disf closure and in part pointed out therein.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention and for a detailed disclosure of the construction and operation ot a preferred embodiment thereof in the form of a washing machine, reference is had to the accompanying d .wing forming a part of this specification, in which Fig. l is a transverse vertical sectionthrough the tank and receiver drum et a washing machine embodying the invention, the section being located between th'e heads ofthe receiver drum, and certain elements being shown diagrammatically in dot and dash outline for clearness of disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a transverse-vertical section similar to that of Fig. l looking in the same direction with reference to the washing machine as in Fig. 1, the section being located on a plane just inside the end wall of the tank and between said end wall and the end wall of the receiver drum and showing said drum with certain operating mechanism thereon in end elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional vieW taken approximately on the line of F ig. 1 and showing a plan of the lifting and squeezing diaphragm.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the supporting framework of the machine is indicated generally at and may be of any suitable construction adapted for supporting a tank or receptacle 11 preferably rectangular in plan and having vertical side walls and end Walls and a curved bottom merging into the side Walls. This tank is adapted for containing the treating liquid, such for example as suds or dye, and may be constructed of suitable material, as wood or noncorrosive metal, and ma be su plied with draining and filling conduits, and) with other fittings, disclosure of which is unnecessary to an understanding of this invention.

Within the tank 11 is supported a container or receiver 12 which as shown is preferably in the form of a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation on its longitudinal. axis, being carried by trunnions or stub shafts 13 projecting from the circular heads or ends 14 of the drum, and in turn supported for rotation in suitable bearings, which may be carried by the end walls of the tank, so that the drum is wholly or partially immersed in the treating liquor of the tank 11. The shell or peripheral side walls of the drum may be provided with perfor-ations 15 for permitting free circulation ot the liquor into the interior compartment of the drum, and has a receiving opening 16 through lwhich the stock may be outer faces of the receiver heads, being preferably elongated, extending from the center of the drum radially and terminating near the periphery thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, and forming at the inner ends thereof sup- -ports for the trunnions 13.

A movable stock manipulating member or stock manipulator 21 is mounted for movement across the interior compartment ofthe receiver drum, so as to squeeze and. agitate or turn the stock therein and to lift it toward the' receiving opening of the drum. As shown, this stock manipulator is preferably mounted on a rock shaft 22 extending longitudinally of the drum, and eccentrieally disposed therein adjacent the peripheral shell, being extended at one or both ends through the heads of the drum and supported in the outer ends of the bearing members 20.

In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, the stock manipulator 21 is cylindrical in shapeconforming to the cylindrical contour of the drum, preferably extending to or approximately to the heads of the latter. It may be constructed of suitable material, such as cast or sheet metal, having perforations 23 corresponding with the perforations 'of the receiver drum, and extending about 12()o circumferentially. rlhe cylindrical shell of the receiver drum is omitted or cut away, forming a peripheral I that of the stock manipulator.

break oropening 2()a therein adjacent' the stock manipulator, and in longitudinal and transverse extent approximately equaling The stock manipulator is mounted on its supporting rock shaft 22 by means of arms 24 preferablyforming stiffening ribs extending transversely of the stock manipulator and positioned so the stock mani ulator when swung outwardly falls into an fills the opening or break in the shell of the drum, forming in such position a continuation of the shell conforming to the general cylindrical contour thereof. At its free end the stock manipulator may have an olf-set flange 25 adapted to Contact with the adjacent inner edge of the shell to limit outward swinging movement of the stock manipulator, and stops 26 secured to the exterior of the drum may be provided if desired for additional supportfor the free edge of the stock manipulator. Baffie members 27 may be secured to the interior of the stock manipulator, extending longitudinally thereof parallel to each other and acting as supports to carry the material under treatment along with the stock manipulator 2l when the latter is on the ascending side of the receiver.

It is ofadvantage to provide the receiver drum with a guard wall 28 positioned to lie adjacent the free or swinging edge of the diaphragm, `As shown this guard wall may forma part f the shell of the drum, and inclndesfaperforated wallcrurved lon 'an arc concentric with the rock shaft 22, and extends longitudinally of the drum throughout the extent of the stock manipulator 21.

It will be observed that this guard wall extends between the charging opening 16 of the receiver and the free edge ofthe stock manipulator 21 when swung completely outwardly. Said guard wall thereby not only serves as a guard to prevent the stock or goods from falling over the edge of the swinging stock manipulator 21, thus preventing tearing or' other injury tothe goods and avoiding obstruction to-the movement of the stock manipulator, but also functions as a slide against which the stock manipulator 2l operates, thus serving to cause the contents of the receiver to be deflected onto said stock manipulator.

An operating lever' 29 is fixed on a projecting end of the rock shaft 22 lying externally of the head 14 of the receiver and between said head and the end Wall of the tank 11, Lbeing provided at its swinging end with an operating cam rollerI 30.

On the end wall of the outer receptacle or tank 11 and inside the latter is arranged and supported a cam bar 31 which is pivoted at one end to said end wall as indicated at 32, near one vertical edge of the end wall, and preferably below the axis of rotation of the receiver, said cam bar extending upwardly from its pivot in an inclined direction and above the axis of rotation of the receiver. This cam bar is limited in its downward movement by means of a stop lug 33 mounted on the tank 1l. The movement of the cam bar upwardly awa from the stop 33 is yieldingly restraine by a contractile spring 34, one end of which is connected to the free end of the cam bar, while the other end is anchored to a pin 35 xed to the adjacent end wall of the tank. The cam bar 31 is provided on its underside with a bearing face, being formed preferably adjacent the pivot 32 with a concave portion 36 merging into a convex portion 37 at the central portion of said bar, which in turn .merges into a concaved portion 38 adjacent the swinging end of the bar. The cam bar 31 and its pivot 32 are so located and arranged that the roller 30 on the lever 29 will engage the cam face of the bar 3l inside said pivot after the free end of the stock manipulator 21 has passed said pivot, thereby causing the stock manipulator to swing inwardly toward the axis of the receiver, either throwing the contents toward the opposite side of the receiver and downwardly into the liquid, or squeezing said contents against said opposite side, provided the bulk of the contents is sutiicient. This action of the stock manipulator also effects agitation and turning of the contents of the receiver, thereby subjecting'the mass thereof to equalized treatment throughout, enabling the treating Afiati ery of the receiver.

Lsamso the tank and positioned just below the cam.`

bar 31, providing a passageway between the two bars for the cam roller y The cam bar 39 is located for a major por-l4 tion of its length with its bearing 'face substantially parallel to the ad`acent face of the bar 31, the initial end o bar 30 being located short of the pivot 32 of bar 31, and the final end being turned away from cam bar 31 and directed downwardly as indicated at 40. By means of this arrangement, when the receiver is revolved in a counter clockwise direction from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the roller 30 strikes the cam bar 31 adjacent the pivot 32, and rides against the bearing face thereof until the upper end of the stock manipulator approximates the vertical, and thenlupon continued rotation of the receiver. the roller 30 strikes against the cam bar 89, thus holding the stock manipulator in its outer position until the roller passes the center of the receiver, whereupon the continued rotation causes the roller to travel between said cam bars until the roller reaches the down-turned part 40, thereby causing the stock manipulator to resume its normal position in the outer eriph- Inasmuch as t e section of Fig. 1 is taken inside of the receiver drum head appearing in Fig. 2, and the operative elements upon the outside of said drum head, therefore, do not normally appear in F ig. 1 it is Well 'to observe that in the showing of Fig. 1 the positions of the cam bars 31 and 39, and of the operating lever 29, and the lifting member 41 described below, are indicated diagrammatically in dot-and-dash outline for the purpose of showing more clearly the relative position of these parts and other operative elements during the progress of rotation of the receiver drum. During revolution of the receiver, the movement of the stock manipulator just described may vary, due to variations in the oad or charge in the receiver,-this variation in movement being automatically compensated by virtue of the yielding of the cam bar 31 permitted by the spring 84. It Will be understood that the cycle of operations just described is repeated at each revolution of the receiver drum.

lt '.vill be observed that rotation of the receiver Will result in tumbling and agitation of the stock and liquor therein, effectually dislodging and removing dirt and impurities from the stock, but. this is accelerated by the oscillatory action of the stock,

manipulator, as described.

In addition to the means for automatically swinging the stock manipulator 21, it is desirable also to rovide means for manually .svvinging Yor liting rit'fso it may be employed to lift the material under treatment out of the treating liquor and tovvard the charging opening 16, so it maywbe conveniently reached for removal from the receiver. A mechanism may be provided for ,accomvnlishing this function including a lifting bar 41 fulcrumed at 42 on an end Wall of the tank 11, and extending between this end Wall and the adjacent head 14 of the receiver. The liftin member 41 is arranged to swing in a vertical plane intersecting the roller 30, and is rigidly connected to a manual operating lever 43 for swinging the lifting bar on its fulcrum. When the receiver is substantially in the position shown in full lines in Fig, 1, the stock manipulator 2l may be swung manually substantially to the position indicated in dot and dash lines in this figure. This is accomplished by swinging the hand lever 43, causing the lifting member 41 to contact withthe roller 30, thus causing rotation of the rock shaft 22 and corresponding movement of the stock manipulator.

it Will therefore be seen that the stock manipulator may be utilized as a lifting device to lift the goods or stock under treat-Vv ment out of the liquid and to hold it in a position Where it may be conveniently grasped by the operator and removed from the receiver. This is an additional convenience, since the hands of the operator need not be immersed in the liquid in order to remove the contents of the receiver.

Since certain changes may be made. in the above construction and diderent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter. contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

lt is also to be understood that the followllli ing claims are intended tocover all of the movement to agitate said stock, a lifting member mounted for movement Within said receiver and positioned to lie when moved outwardly in said gap in the periphery of the receiver so as to form a part of the Wall thereof, and means to operate said lifting member to move said stock toward said receiving opening and to support it in osition for convenient removal therethroug 2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a receiver including a revolvably mounted drum having a compartment forthe reception of stock and having a gap in the wall thereof. a swinging stock manipulator mounted within said compartment eccentrically to the drum mounting and adapted for agitating said stock, and when swung outwardly lying in position to till said gap in the receiver wall and completing the receiver wall, and the inner surface of said drum adjacent the swinging edge of the stock manipulator being formed to lie closely adjacent to said edge throughout its swinging travel so as to prevent said edge of said stock manipulator froml injuring said stock and to prevent the stock manipnlator from being obstructed in its movement by the stock. l

3. Ina machine of the character described, lin combination, a receiver drum having an interior compartment and a receiving opening leading to said interior compartment and said drum having a gap therein apart from said receiving opening and being revolvab'ly mounted to agitate the contents of the receiver, a swinging stock manipulator mounted within said receiver eccentrically to the receiver mounting and conforming in contour to the sides of the receiver drum and in one position lying in said gap in the receiver drum to complete the Wall thereof, and manually operable means to move said stock manipulator so as to lift the contents of the receiver toward said -receiving opening and to hold it in position tor convenient removal therethrough, Ithe receiver having a curved wa`l portion approximately concentric with the mounting of said stock manipulator and lying adjacent the swinging edge thereof.

4. In a machine ofthe character described, in combination, a receptacle for a treating fluid, a receiver drum revolvably mounted in said 'receptacle and providing a substantially closed receiver having a compartment for the reception of stock and having a receiving opening leading to said compartment and a gap in the Wall thereof, a swinging stock manipulator mounted Within said compartment and conforming in contour to the Wall of said receiver and positioned to lie in and fill said gap in the receiver Wall, and means to move said stock manipulator to lift said stock toward the receiving opencontained in the receiver toward said openi ing and to hold it in lifted position.

6. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a receiver' having a charging opening and a second opening remote from said c iarging opening` a stock manipulator pivotal'y mounted within said receiver and when in outward position lying within said second opening, a lever connected to said stock manipulator and extending outside the receiver, and a manually operable lever cooperable with said first named lever to move said stock manipulator to lift the contents .of the receiver toward said charging opening.

7. ln a machine ofthe character described,

in combination, a rotary receiver having a charging opening and a second opening remote from said charging opening, a swinging stock manipulator in said receiver and when in outward position lying within said second opening, means cooperable with said stock manipulator to automatically swing it during rotation of the receiver, and manua`ly operable means to move said stock manipulator to lift the contents of the receiver toward said charging opening. 8. lin a machine ofthe character described, m combination, a rotary receiver having a compartment for the rece tion of stock with a recelving opening lea ing thereto and a second opening remote from said receiving opening, a rock shaft extending longitudinally of said receiver, a stock manipulator rigidly mounted on said rock shaft and in one position lying within said second opening of said compartment so as to form a part of the Wall of said receiver, means for automatically rocking said shaft during rotation of the receiver, and manually operable means independent of said rst mentioned means for rocking said shaft.

9. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a rotary receiver having a com artment for the reception of stock inclu ing a shell and heads and having a receiving opening leading to said compartment and a second opening remote from said receiving opening, a rock shaft extending longitudinally of the receiver and mounted in bearings in said heads, a stock manipumote from said receiving opening, a rock shaft extending longitudinally of the receiver, a stock manipulator mounted on said shaft and in one osition lying in said secondopening to orm a wall of the receiver, and manually operable means for said shaft.

11. Ina machine of the character described, in combinatiom. a rotary receiver having areceiving opening and a second opening remote from said receiving opening, a rock shaft'extending longitudinally'of the receiver, a stock manipulator mounted on said rock shaft and in one position lying within said second opening and forming a part of the wall of the receiver, means for automatically rocking said shaft during rotation of the receiver, and manually operable means for operating said rock shaft.

12. ln a machine of the character. described, in combination, a rotary receiver having a receiving opening and a second opening remote from said receiver opening, a rock shaft extending longitudinally of the receiver, a stock manipulator mounted on said rock shaft and in one position lying in said second opening and forming a part of the receiver wall, a lever attached to said rock shaft, and manually operable means cooperating with said lever to move said rock shaft and swing said stock manipulator to lift the contents of the receiver toward said receiving opening.

18, ln a machine of the character described, in combination, a receptacle, a rotary receiver Within said receptacle including heads and a shell having an opening therethrough, a stock manipulator mounte for swinging movement Within said receiver and in one position lying within said opening and forming a part of the Wall of the receiver, an operating lever connected to said stock manipulator, a yielding cam bar engageable by said lever during a periodl of a revolution of said receiver to swing said stock manipulator, and manually operable means cooperable with said lever when the latter is out of engagement with said cam bar to Swing said stock manipulator.

14. A rotary receiver drum for machines of the character described, having a compartinentfor'the reception of stock and an opening in the periphery thereof leading into said compartment, a stock manipulator mounted for movement Within said compartment and when in one position lying in said opening in the periphery of the drum' and forming a part of the Wall for the latter.

15. A rotary receiver drum formachines of the character described, having a compartment for the reception of stockl and an opening in the periphery thereof leading into said compartment, a stock manipulator mounted for swinging movement within said compartment and when in one'position lying in said opening in the eriphery of the drum and forming a part ofp the wall for the latter, and the drum having a wall section with the inner surface thereof disposed adjacent the swinging edge of the stock manipulator and curved concentrically with the mounting of said stock manipulator.

16. A rotary receiver drum for machines of the character described, having a compartment for the reception of stock with a receiving opening leading thereto and a second opening remote from 'said receiving opening, a stock manipulator mounted for movement within said compartment and when in one position lying within said second opening and forming a part of the wall for the receiver and being movable toward said receiving opening to lift the stock and to support it in convenient position for removal.

17. A rotary receiver drum for machines of the character described, having a compartment for the reception of stock with a receiving o ening leading thereto and a second opening remote from said receiving opening, a stock manipulator mounted for v swinging movement within said compartment and in one position-lying in said second opening and forming a part of the wall for the compartment, and swingable toward said receiving opening to squeeze the stock and to lift and hold it in convenient position for removal, and said drum havin a wall section with'inner surface thereof a jacent the swinging edge of the stock manipu-V lator and being curved concentrically with. the mounting of said stock manipulator.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

y FREDERIC H. EHNTS. 

